Discussion 4 – Holiness in Worship

Pray

Pray together for the group meeting, and any pressing needs within the group.

Review

Each week you’ll spend some time reviewing the previous week’s lesson. Did anything happen last week that brought the lesson to mind, and what did you learn from it?

Watch

Watch the following discussion-starter video. It’ll set the topic of discussion for the group.

Read

For each section of verse below: One person will first read the scripture selection in the King James Version.

Re-read

Next, another person will read the same passages in a modern language or amplified version for more clarity such as the New Living Translation (NLT), Message Bible (MSG), New English Translation (NET), Amplified Bible (AMP), etc.

Retell

One person will begin retelling the scripture passage in their own words (a new person to start each week is great!) Then…

As a group, work together to fill in gaps and build knowledge towards understanding and wisdom. This will help us internalize and own it. Be sure everyone participates.

True Worship

1 Chronicles 16:29

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name:

bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

• How do we give God the Glory due unto His name?
• What offering can we bring to God?
• What does it mean to worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness?

John 4:24

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

• Why is it essential to be aware of God’s nature as we worship Him?
• What does it mean to worship God in spirit and truth?
• What role does Worship play in our pursuit of holiness?

1 Samuel 15:22

And Samuel said,

Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,

as in obeying the voice of the LORD?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

and to hearken than the fat of rams.

• What is the purpose of a sacrifice to God?
• Why is obedience better than sacrifice?
• What denotes sincere worship?

Amos 5:21-27

21 I hate, I despise your feast days,

and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.

22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them:

neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.

23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs;

for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.

24 But let judgment run down as waters,

and righteousness as a mighty stream.

25 Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?

26 But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images,

the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.

27 Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus,

saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts.

• What is an example of insincere worship?
• What are the consequences of insincere worship?
• How can we personally ensure that God is pleased with our worship?

Emotions & Expressive Worship

Mark 12:30

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

• What is the benefit of loving God with
• All of our heart?
• All of our soul?
• All of our mind?
• All of our strength?
• Why is this considered the first and greatest commandment?

Psalms 111:1

1 Praise ye the LORD.

I will praise the LORD with my whole heart,

in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

• Why is it essential to praise God with our whole heart?
• What might hinder us from praising God with our whole heart?
• How does a congregation of other believers encourage our praise?
• How does praise and fellowship with other believers help us in our pursuit of Holiness?

Psalms 98:4-8

4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth:

make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp;

with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.

6 With trumpets and sound of cornet

make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.

7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof;

the world, and they that dwell therein.

8 Let the floods clap their hands:

let the hills be joyful together

• How would you characterize our praise to God?
• What is the difference between praise and worship?
• How does praise impact our worship?

Psalms 150:6

6 Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD.

Praise ye the LORD.

• Why is everything that has breath called to praise the Lord?
• What might prevent someone from praising God?
• How does praise encourage our pursuit of holiness?

Quenching the Spirit

1 Thessalonians 5:19

19 Quench not the Spirit.

• How might one quench the Spirit?
• What knowledge is necessary for one to know how not to quench the Spirit?
• How does our pursuit of holiness help us not quench the Spirit?

1 Corinthians 14:26

26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

• Why are the believers in this scripture being admonished for things that seem good to do?
• What may have been the believers purpose for what they had to say if not for edification?
• Why must our public worship services be Spirit led?

1 Corinthians 14:33, 40

33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

• How is God described in this scripture?
• Why is order necessary during a worship gathering?
• What are some consequences of doing things in a worship service haphazardly?

2 Corinthians 3:17

17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

• How does the presence of God establish liberty?
• How does freedom impact our worship?
• What role does freedom play in our pursuit of holiness?

Music in Worship

2 Chronicles 5:13-14

13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;

14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

• What are the characteristics of praise that ushers in the presence of God.
• Describe, from your own experience, what happens when the presence of God fills a room.
• How should we respond to the presence of God?

2 Chronicles 20:21-22

21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.

22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

• How does praise correlate to victory?
• What personal victories have you experienced as a result of your praise?
• How does knowing we are victorious help in our pursuit of holiness?

Ephesians 5:19

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

• Why does Paul encourage us to speak to ourselves in Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs?
• Why is it beneficial to make melody in our hearts to the Lord?
• How does always being mindful of who we worship aid in our pursuit of holiness? 

Next Week: Pursuing Holiness – Lesson 5 – Honesty & Integrity

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